YSR Congress leader Koneru Prasad
As he winds his way through the bylanes of Vijayawada, a shower of flower petals greets Koneru Prasad, making his political debut as the candidate from YSR Congress for this prestigious seat.
The display of popular support is in stark contrast to three years ago when he was arrested by the CBI as part of its crackdown on alleged multiple acts of corruption by Jagan Mohan Reddy, the founder of the YSR Congress. The charges pertain to a joint venture Prasad promoted between the Dubai-based Emaar Group and the Andhra Pradesh government to develop a luxury township in Hyderabad. Prasad is alleged to have sold flats at inflated rates, pocketing the profits, rather than share it with the government.
Prasad told us that he didn't sell the flats. "I was not a part of it, I was not involved, I don't have any role to play in that." The CBI claims the money was routed directly into his accounts. But Prasad told us he has very limited access to the information, "I have a very limited permit to talk because of the bail that I am in."
Jagan himself is one of the co-accused in the same chargesheet, making the question redundant as to why Prasad, despite the taint, would be given a ticket.
A two hour drive from Vijayawada, in Narsaraopet constituency, Jagan has fielded another businessman also a co-accused in the corruption cases.
Ayodhya Rami Reddy is the founder of the Ramky Group with interests in infrastructure, waste disposal, and real estate.
Ramky was alleged by the CBI to have invested Rs 10 crores in Jagan's media company Jagati Publications, a payoff, the CBI claims, in return for the Andhra government relaxing green norms for Ramky's Pharma City.
Ayodhya Reddy claimed that he received no benefits, and that the money was invested by his subcontractors, over whom he has no control.
Jagan Reddy has always claimed that the CBI charges against him are political vendetta, but by giving tickets to the same businessmen that have been implicated with him in corruption cases, only reinforces the perception of a nexus.
Ironically, Reddy says he was given a ticket so that he can clean up how business is done in Andhra Pradesh, where contractors are "too close to politicians".
"Most of the (infra) companies got into mess. More than 90 per cent of the companies got into mess. What is the reason? Because of not having right kind of focus on policy level, processes, systems, at every level, at government level, you don't have right people."
Not to be outdone, the TDP has fielded Vijayawada's leading bus transporter, Srinivas Kesineni against Koneru Prasad, and former Congressman Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, who is associated with Transtroy India, a company that bagged mega irrigation projects in Andhra, against Ayodhya Reddy.
In Andhra Pradesh, an election where protecting business interests seems to come before political ethics or public interest.